Simona Halep’s four years doping ban has been reduced to nine months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas), ruling that she was not guilty of intentional doping. The ban resulting from Halep testing positive for roxadustat a blood-boosting drug marked a significant event in tennis history as the sport’s first anti-doping rule violation via the athlete biological passport program.
Halep a former world No. 1 and two times grand slam title winner, appealed the charges and the Cas panel unanimously opted to reduce her ineligibility period. The panel concluded that while Halep did not exercise sufficient care with a contaminated supplement, her violations were not intentional and she bore no significant fault or negligence.
Halep expressed resilience and anticipation for her return to professional tennis. The Cas panel also dismissed an athlete biological passport charge citing insufficient satisfaction of an anti-doping rule violation regarding irregularities in Halep’s blood parameters. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) awaits the full reasoned decision for a thorough review.
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